Looking Like a Store

It has been a busy week of fixture installation and product placement. The fixture install crew led by Bill and Nathan started on Monday and by Friday we had a real store ready for product. While the fixture installation was in progress, the electrical crew finished up with power for the cashier counters, paint counter and service desk. The burglar alarm was installed and the telephone and computer cabling was finished. Friday was the final walk-thru with our general contractor and we received our final inspection approvals from both the electrical inspector and the structural inspector. We are now good to go with the city.

Friday night we turned on the outside sign. It's all very real now. On Saturday, while Pam and I did another round of 35 interviews, a truck arrived from the Ace warehouse with a full load of product to be placed. Our crew of five visual merchandisers starting placing product on Saturday morning and by Sunday afternoon various departments were beginning to take shape. While we were at the store on Saturday, lots of people stopped by to "cheer us on". It's been fun hearing how excited people are to have Ace opening downtown. One guy drove by honking his horn and yelling out the window "Ace is The Place!"

On Sunday Pam and I built the Patio Living area fixtures while Bill our fixture expert started to install decor - including end cap signs and aisle signs. We also received delivery of a bunch of specialty displays that we bought at Circuit City's liquidation sale. Thanks Sunny for getting us the super deal.